Looking for wedding anniversary ideas that go beyond dinner at your favourite restaurant? In Poznan, one of the more memorable options is a private cruise on the Warta – for the couple and their nearest and dearest, or for the whole family, with children, grandchildren and the best man and maid of honour from the big day all those years ago. Two hours on the water combine the elegance of a reception with views no banquet hall can offer.
Below we suggest how to match the cruise to the number of years you have been married, how to plan it step by step and which surprises to prepare on board.
Wedding Anniversary Ideas by Milestone
A first anniversary is celebrated differently from a golden wedding. This table will help you choose the right type of cruise for the occasion:
| Anniversary | Who usually celebrates | Cruise idea |
|---|---|---|
| The first few anniversaries | the couple and friends | an evening cruise with music from the wedding and dancing |
| 10th–20th anniversary | the couple, friends, children | a sunset cruise and photos together |
| 25th anniversary – silver wedding | family, best man and maid of honour, friends | a reception with catering, toasts and speeches |
| 50th anniversary – golden wedding | several generations of the family | a relaxed afternoon cruise, music for all generations |
For a golden wedding, there is one more ceremony worth knowing about – especially if you are celebrating with Polish family. Couples who have been married to each other for at least 50 years can receive the Medal for Long Marital Life (Medal za Długoletnie Pożycie Małżeńskie), awarded by the President of Poland. The application is submitted at the registry office (urząd stanu cywilnego) for the couple’s place of residence, and a cruise with the family can be a lovely way to round off the ceremony.
A Wedding Anniversary on a Boat in Poznan – Intimate or with the Whole Family
A cruise works in both versions. In the intimate version, for a dozen or so of your closest people, what counts is conversation, good food and the views. In the family version, with several generations on board, the priorities are easy travel for older guests, music that grandparents and grandchildren alike will dance to, and a programme that doesn’t tire anyone out.
Package prices are quoted for groups of 30 or more. For a smaller gathering, you can use our small-groups offer (up to 30 people) with an individual quote – tell us how many guests you are planning for and we will prepare a proposal. You will find all the occasions we organise cruises for in the city on the BoatParty Poznan page.
If the children are organising the anniversary for their parents, decide whether the celebration should be a surprise. With older couples, a “half-surprise” tends to work better: the couple knows about the cruise, but not who else is coming.
How to Plan an Anniversary Cruise in Poznan Step by Step
- Date. We run cruises in season, from spring to autumn. If your wedding date falls outside the season, celebrate on the nearest convenient weekend or give the couple a voucher.
- Time of the cruise. Sunset gives you the most beautiful photos of the couple, while the afternoon is more comfortable for older guests and children.
- Getting there. The boarding point is agreed when you book – let us know straight away that there will be older guests, so that together we can plan easy access for them.
- Catering and drinks. Hot, cold or barbecue catering, hostesses or bartenders and a welcome drink – to suit the style of the celebration.
- Setting. Boat decorations, a personalised banner with the couple’s names and wedding date, a photo report or a souvenir HD film.
- Music. Prepare a list of songs from the wedding – with the Basic package you can plug in your own music, and with the VIP package a DJ will take charge of the playlist.
- Gifts and flowers. Decide whether guests will hand them over on board, and appoint one person to take everything to the couple’s home after the cruise – they should not have to go home weighed down with bags.
We accept bookings up to 5 working days before the event, but summer weekends in season are worth booking well in advance. You will find a detailed to-do list in our boat party planning checklist.
Surprise Ideas for a Cruise on the Warta
- a first dance, years later – the same song as at the wedding, ideally at sunset;
- a guest book – every guest writes down a memory of the couple;
- letters from the children and grandchildren – read aloud halfway through the cruise;
- a live performance – for example a musical one, ordered as an extra;
- a “then and now” photo – the couple poses just as in their wedding photo, and the photographer captures the same shot with the Warta in the background.
Two hours are easy to plan so that the surprises do not tread on each other’s toes:
- the first 20 minutes – welcoming the guests, a welcome drink and a moment to chat;
- after about half an hour – a toast and a short speech from one of the children, the best man or the maid of honour;
- the middle of the cruise – the letters, the guest book and a family photo;
- the last half hour – the first dance, years later, and then the dance floor is open to everyone.
Before the cruise you could plan a walk around Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island): you can take a family photo by Poland’s oldest cathedral, and older guests can rest before boarding. If you are planning a Mass for the couple, set the cruise time so that there is enough time to travel without rushing. On board, remind your guests to follow the crew’s instructions and not to lean over the side. We have described what you can see from the water in our post on the Poznan river cruise route on the Warta.
BoatParty’s Offer for a Wedding Anniversary in Poznan
We plan family celebrations individually, and pricing depends on the number of guests and your expectations. As a point of reference, packages for a 2-hour cruise cost from €16 (Basic), from €20 (Star) and from €31 (VIP) per person for groups of 30 or more. With the VIP package, a Partymaker (your on-board host) takes care of how the evening runs, and the price also includes a welcome drink, a DJ with equipment and a photo report, among other things. You will find the details on the special occasions on a boat in Poznan page.
If the date has not been set yet, or you would like to give the cruise as a gift, a voucher is ideal – it is valid for 6 months, so the couple can choose the day themselves. We explain how to give a cruise as a present in our guide a boat trip gift voucher.
Frequently Asked Questions – a Wedding Anniversary on a Boat in Poznan
Can you organise a wedding anniversary for a dozen or so people?
Yes. Package prices apply to groups of 30 or more, and for smaller groups we prepare an individual quote as part of our “Small groups” offer.
Can the boat be decorated for an anniversary?
Yes – boat decorations and a personalised banner, for example with the couple’s names and wedding date, are extras you can order when you book.
Can we give our parents a cruise as a gift?
Yes, in the form of a boat trip voucher. It is valid for 6 months, so the couple can choose a convenient date in the season themselves.
What time should we plan an anniversary cruise for?
The departure time is agreed individually. For a family celebration with older guests and children, the afternoon works well, while for the couple and their friends a cruise at sunset or in the evening is a great choice.
How do you get the medal for 50 years of marriage?
The Medal for Long Marital Life (Medal za Długoletnie Pożycie Małżeńskie) is awarded by the President of Poland to couples who have been married to each other for at least 50 years. The application is submitted at the registry office for the couple’s place of residence.
A Wedding Anniversary in Poznan – Summary
A good anniversary means time with your loved ones and a few moments that will live on in photos for years. A cruise on the Warta gives you a relaxed backdrop, a space just for you and a programme that is easy to adapt to the ages of your guests. Give us the date and the number of people – we will prepare an initial offer for your anniversary cruise.
Book your private boat party
A celebration on a boat in Poznan: a cruise for your nearest and dearest, catering and a setting tailored to the occasion. Send us an enquiry and we will prepare an offer.
